THRIVE 59
Maitake
Also known as “hen of the woods,” this fungus
is native to the northeastern part of Japan
and North America. It can be found growing
in clusters at the base of oak trees typically in
the late summer to early autumn. If you’re not
up for foraging them yourselves, they can be
found at most Asian markets. With soft, petal-
like caps and a tough base, these mushrooms
have a rich and buttery flavor that’s coaxed
out only by sautéing or roasting them.hoW to use them:
Maitakes are wonderful roasted or thrown
into soups, but we prefer using a pressing
technique. This method typically brines
maitakes, then presses and marinates them
before roasting or grilling to produce a meaty
steak that can be slathered in barbecue sauce,
battered and tucked into a burger, in salads
or shredded and served in tacos. be sure to
check out wickedhealthyfood.com for more
mushroom recipes and ideas.Maitake
Red Reishi
Fresh and Royal
Red Reishi
Also known as the lingzhi mushroom, reishi
is a polypore mushroom that is actively
studied for its medicinal value and used in
traditional medicine for its supportive effects
on the immune system. Most often steeped
in tea, reishi has an intensely bitter taste
that can be balanced out with the addition of
agave or other natural sweetener. It can also
be used in savory applications like broths
and soups (like Vegan Ramen, pictured left)
to add an additional immunity-boosting
benefit.Where to get them:
In the early 1970s, Japanese researchers
discovered a method for cultivating reishi
on a mass scale, so they can be found most
commonly through online retailers. but, if
you’re an experienced and lucky forager or
know one, you can likely find them fresh in
the Northeast and Southwest parts of the U.S.Wonderful
roasted or
thrown
into soups
Used in traditional
medicine for their
supportive effects on
the immune system
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